Name: Surf Motel and Gardens
Address: 1220 South Main Street, California, United States of America, Mendocino Coast, United States of America
Rating: 7.4

What guests think

Across reviews of Surf Motel and Gardens, guests consistently highlight the pet-friendly grounds with gardens, dog run, and convenient parking, while opinions diverge on room condition and cleanliness, with some praising updated showers and others citing odors, carpets, and wear.

The location is convenient for Fort Bragg sights, beaches, and Noyo Harbor, with shops and dining nearby. Service feedback is mixed, ranging from friendly staff to slow check-ins with rooms not ready and occasional housekeeping misses. Breakfast is a simple continental spread that many find limited, and Wi-Fi reliability can be weak. Best for travelers prioritizing value and pet-friendly grounds over polished finishes.

Facilities

Cleanliness

Rooms

Service

Location

Dining

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Facilities

Guests highlight the gardens, picnic areas with fire pit/BBQs, and a fenced dog run; parking right outside rooms is convenient. Some note parts of the grounds could use better upkeep.

Related guest reviews

10

Glinda

Jul 9, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great staff, beautiful landscape and bonus dog area

10

john

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

it's always pleasant to stay here. beautiful flower gardens, quiet, simple but nice breakfast.

10

Melissa

Jul 19, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It was a nice motel serves continental breakfast has bbq pits nice flowers smokimng area cool spot right next to a grocery store and mcdonalds

8

Jo-Ann

Aug 3, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Car can park in front of room makes unloading and packing easier.

10

Jasmine

Jun 30, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I loved the garden and BBQ area. They have a dog park for those traveling with their furry friends. Everything we needed was just a few minutes away.

10

Jesse

Sep 5, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Great, simple, minimum-frills place to stay, especially if bringing dogs. The property is nice and has multiple grassy areas filled with plants. Convenient access for a quick pee-walk with the pups. There are also multiple wooden gazebos and benches that are pretty if you want to sit outside for a bit. There is a small enclosed dog park on the property as well that is a great and safe place to let the dogs off leash to stretch after the car ride to get there. The fridge was nice and cold. The beds were comfy. Nice showers with soap/ shampoo/ conditioner included on the wall. Quick-grab breakfast options available in the morning at the front office

10

Rand

Aug 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very clean, nostalgic feel and friendly. Close to town but not in town. The gardens are great for an evening stroll, glass of wine or just to visit with friends. I would definitely stay there again. The free breakfast is minimal, but still free, no complaints here at all.

8

Anita

Aug 2, 2025

·

Stayed 4 nights

Very nice gardens. Staff helpful and clean rooms.

10

Denise

Sep 19, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Perfect for a pet friendly stay. Lots of room to walk your dogs around and the park is a huge plus.

4

Alexandrea

Aug 18, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

We paid $187 for one night for a queen size room. Thec first thing I noticed was how dirty the door was to the room. They put us in a 2 bedroom room which that's not what we booked, the smell of the room was awful ! I was trying not to gag from the smell. We would've went somewhere else but all other places were full! The beds were so hard my shoulder hurt in the morning from it. All the baseboards were dirty, there was graffiti in the bathroom. There was writing all over the guest booklet. The remote did not work. The wifi they gave us did not work at all. For as much as we paid for one night it was awful. The smell was the worst part, I had to go buy a candle to help cover it up. They did have a fire pit outside at night and a dog park. They should really consider cleaning the place up. Maybe putting in some different flooring because I'm sure it was dog pee smell from the carpets !

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Cleanliness

Cleanliness is inconsistent: while many rooms are tidy, recurring complaints mention dirty or stained carpets, lingering smoke or musty odors, and missed cleaning between stays.

Related guest reviews

2

EDITH

Jan 3, 2026

·

Stayed 1 night

The room had a bad odor, there was black debris under the sheet, and the fabric on the chair next to the bed was extremely filthy.

6

Sandra

Oct 3, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The room was clean and the staff was friendly.

10

Shannon

Oct 6, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Hotel is older but clean. Staff was very friendly.

10

Rebecca

Oct 14, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Very friendly. Room was very clean.

4

Jean

Sep 1, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Carpets are the most dirtiest things I’ve seen.

6

Jennifer

Aug 13, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Thin walls, stained carpets and damaged walls but room served its purpose for a stay near convenient location and NOYO. Property grounds of lawn, grill , and flowers were nice

6

Mary Elizabeth

Jul 28, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Room accessibility was easy. Parking right in front. There was plenty of bath towels and I appreciated the bath soap/shampoo on the wall. However, the furniture hadn't been dusted in awhile, the walls are thin (could hear the conversation of the couple on one side and the guy snoring on the other side), the bed linens were substandard with a thin blanket and cheap pillows, and the deep jacuzzi/tub needs grab bars (almost couldn't get out!). This was an average motel with nothing special to set it apart from the others along Hwy. 1.

2

Cindy

Aug 10, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Lacked in cleanliness, greasy finger/hand smudges on surfaces, carpet had stains, pillows were old, microwave had guck inside, ac didn't work, room smelled like a public restroom.

4

Robert

Jul 18, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very dirty carpet...run down. There were a lot of "Awards" hanging in the lobby, but they were all at least a few years old. Property probably sold to new owners who won't re-invest back into the property (happens a lot- I am a hospitality exec and seeing a lot of these independent properties being purchased by foreign family's who just want to squeeze the profit out of them).

6

Cliff

Dec 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

The room was comfortable, but the bed was dusty and could have been cleaner.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

Rooms

Rooms range from basic to modestly updated; several mention renovated showers and some larger layouts, but decor and furnishings can feel dated and bed comfort varies. Noise between rooms and spotty Wi-Fi are noted by some guests.

Related guest reviews

8

Glen

Aug 26, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Beds were uncomfortable and seemed old and cheap. Most everything else was fine.

8

Gayle

Jul 8, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

This is a great pet friendly place to stay along the Northern California coast. Our only issue was lack of cell phone signal and spotty Wi-Fi.

8

Nancy

Sep 17, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

My room had a new shower, sink and John. It was in the process of being updated. I will stay there again.

8

Joseph

May 25, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Loved how much space there was. Like being in a one bedroom apartment.

4

Ken

Jul 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Mattress was worn out, broken down, bathroom make over very unprofessional, sloppy paint job, repair on bathroom door unacceptable. Will not stay here again.

6

Deborah

Dec 30, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Despite checking in at 4pm, the room was not ready until 5:40pm. Front desk person didn’t even know or inform us, nor apologized or offered anything for the inconvenience. We noticed the guests next door were also waiting for their room to be cleaned and the housekeeper didn't start to clean their room until they finished with ours. Poor communication and hospitality, but the room was clean. Wifi reception was weak and we were kicked off routinely.

6

Art

Jun 27, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Check-in was quick and simple, but property did not seem like it was well taken care of. One of two keycards didn't work. Room smelled strongly of wet dog, stale smoke, or a dirty vacuum cleaner. One of the two beds lost all spring and sagged. Walls were thin and I could hear next-room conversations.

10

Carol

May 21, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Excellent condition of our room. I would flip the new shower doors (room 130) as it’s a small place next to the toilet to walk in. And all showers need grab bars. Beds are comfortable, extra blankets. Tv is huge. Would recommend.

6

Micah

Jul 27, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Everything else can be perfect, but if the shower is a luke warm low flow disaster, that’s 1 star hotel, and that’s what we have here. A hot shower is a must after a long day of adventure. End of review.

4

Grant

Sep 22, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

The beds were too soft. The first night was terrible and got no sleep. Talked to front desk and then they switched to another room but only a double bed instead of King. I know that is different being close to the ocean but it was also very musty smelling. Will not book there again.

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Service

Service is mixed: many praise friendly, helpful front-desk support and quick fixes, but repeated reports cite slow or delayed check-in, rooms not ready, inconsistent housekeeping, and occasional rudeness.

Related guest reviews

4

Roger

Aug 29, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Had to wait an extra hour after check in time for the room to be ready (5:00), no iron, no trash can very limited breakfast. Close to everything we needed and reasonably quiet.

10

Robert

Jul 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Staff was friendly and attentive. Room was clean. Price was great.

10

Pamela

Jul 24, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Ava was great at check-in.

10

David

Jan 15, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The staff was super friendly made you feel at home...

6

Deborah

Dec 30, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Despite checking in at 4pm, the room was not ready until 5:40pm. Front desk person didn’t even know or inform us, nor apologized or offered anything for the inconvenience. We noticed the guests next door were also waiting for their room to be cleaned and the housekeeper didn't start to clean their room until they finished with ours. Poor communication and hospitality, but the room was clean. Wifi reception was weak and we were kicked off routinely.

2

Ashley

Jul 31, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

When I checked in I had to remind them I already paid. Got to my room and there was a lady in there clearly high with a dog laying on the bed. Went to the lobby they said “oh sorry we thought we got her out…. Did she say anything to you.” Gave me another room there was bugs on the floor and something brown smeared on the wall by the toilet l. I really just almost walked out but wanted a hot shower….. the water was cold. Then to top it off they gave me a room next to the other room so I got started down by the high lady and her friend. Did not feel safe

2

Skyler

Jul 3, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

I told you I got there at 11 o’clock at night. Put my stuff in there at 12 o’clock. I went to leave to go get some food. I came back around one or two with my keys and couldn’t get in and there was no staff I was outside until like four or five in the morning.

8

MICHELLE

Aug 14, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

This used to be our go to when visiting fort Bragg. Not sure if it is under new management or ownership but this trip made us think twice about staying here in the future. Front desk staff was rude, and when checking in after the 4pm time, several people in front of me were told their rooms were not yet ready. Outside trash cans were overflowing the entire 3 days we were there. We were only given 1 roll of toilet paper. Called for more and it never came. There were also people sleeping in a mini van back by the dog run/fire pit areas, made me very uncomfortable. We will be exploring other options on our next visit unfortunately.

10

James E

Sep 17, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Check in was fast and friendly.

10

Jennifer

Nov 23, 2024

·

They had issues on their end resolved before I even knew there was an issue - apparently they had overbooked and in doing so simply upgraded me before I got there so as to accommodate all I had requested!! Later helped me to find what I needed locally and were very knowledgeable of the area. They really summed up my trip PERFECTLY!!!

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Location

Convenient for Glass Beach, Noyo Harbor, the Skunk Train, and nearby shops and dining; set just off the main road. A few guests mentioned safety concerns near the back of the property.

Related guest reviews

10

Stephanie

Aug 16, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

Room was neat and clean. The site was quiet and there was easy access to a hiking trail within walking distance from the motel. I would not want to have a room on the south side of the motel as there were two transients camped out overnight next to the dog run. I suggest security patrol at night.

8

James

Sep 1, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Good location in Fort Bragg.

10

Frederick

Nov 30, 2024

·

Stayed 2 nights

Stayed 3 nights. Comfortable, warm, and quiet. Convenient location.

6

Satoko

Oct 7, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

It’s in a convenient location.

8

Donna

Aug 11, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

This was a nice place. Our room was on the backside where it looked like repairs were being done. There was a mattress leaned against the wall. The reception was nice at check in and there was a key drop for check out. The room was clean and nice but the bed was too firm for me. Overall a nice place really close to the beach etc.

10

Crystal

Jul 20, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Great location!

8

Donna R

Apr 15, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Location great for me. Nice grounds and well maintained. Close to all good points in Fort Bragg.

6

Joan

Dec 29, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The property is nice and conveniently located near coastal access and it is close to noyo harbor too. The room needed so.e repairs - the veneer was comi g off of the cabinet holding the refrigerator, there was a large piece of counter top missing under the microwave, the wall was in disrepair, the curtain hem was unraveling. microwave

10

Jianguo

Dec 27, 2023

·

Stayed 1 night

This property is location in a convenient, walking distance to shopping and food option. Its is quite and easy to find. Staff are very good and polite. Breakfast room is big comparing others.

10

Thomas

Apr 15, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Close to skunk train glass beach and state parks

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Dining

Breakfast is a basic continental offering (toast, cereal, pastries, fruit, coffee). Several guests found the selection limited or lacking protein, while others thought it adequate for the price.

Related guest reviews

10

Garry

May 28, 2025

·

Stayed 1 night

Breakfast was basic. No Eggs. Everything else was Good as published by the Hotel Management on Expedia.

4

Liz

Sep 17, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

The motel was inexpensive compared to other options, so I hate to complain. My main beef was that the mattress was hard and lumpy; and so were the pillows. I was hoping to get a comfy night’s rest after a week of camping and, honestly, my camp air mattress was better! This is pretty normal for a motel- but had to put in earplugs to drown out the noise of other guests’ stomping and door-slamming til after midnight . The included breakfast was disappointing - little more than coffee and toast; no protein.

4

Chad

Nov 15, 2023

·

Stayed 2 nights

Poor Excuse for a Breakfast. Green banana's, cold cereal, instant oatmeal, a few packaged pastries, juice and coffee. First room had not been cleaned. Some rooms were not available because they were being treated for fleas. The place really needs to be remodeled and cleaned up.

4

Peter

Jul 9, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Location is ok, but there's a very unpleasant odor. The free breakfast doesn't have many options.

8

james

Jul 8, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

The hotel and room was a bit dated but it was nice, clean, and a good value. The bed was comfortable. The breakfast was a nice touch. It wasn't elaborate but it had a nice selection (cereal, oatmeal, fruit, toast, pastries, coffee, chocolate, and juice). We would definitely stay there again.

8

Xi

May 28, 2025

·

Stayed 3 nights

Parking is free and can park in front of your room, which is super convenient. Breakfast is disappointed.

8

Jean-Charles

Oct 31, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Overall good stay. Very affordable. Breakfast was limited but ok. Hotel is old and needs remodeling.

10

Rand

Aug 1, 2025

·

Stayed 2 nights

Very clean, nostalgic feel and friendly. Close to town but not in town. The gardens are great for an evening stroll, glass of wine or just to visit with friends. I would definitely stay there again. The free breakfast is minimal, but still free, no complaints here at all.

8

s

May 28, 2024

·

Stayed 3 nights

An older motel and not fancy by any means, but came with all the amenities needed such as wall mounted bath soap, hair products, shower caps, fridge, microwave, cable with HBO, etc. Bed was comfortable, extra pillows upon request. Breakfast included variety of cold and hot cereals, coffee with real half n half, juices, danish, toast. Would definitely return.

10

Cheri

Oct 26, 2024

·

Stayed 1 night

Was happily surprised at the breakfast options which we did not expect. With food prices rather high in this coastal community helped our budget to not need to purchase breakfast. We were placed in the rear of the property with the gardens between our room and the street. Was thrilled to see solar panels on the roof. The location was convenient and the property very accessible for seniors.We enjoyed our stay.

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AI-generated summary based on recent guest reviews

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Property description

Guest reviews

Good

Who stays here?

What guests think

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Surf Motel and Gardens